Trouble-indicating system



Jan. 1 1 1927.

E. B. CRAFT ET AL f TROUBLE INDICATING SYSTEM Jan. 11 1927.

E. B. CRAFT ET AL TROUBLE INDICATING SYSTEM Filed Nov. 1 1924 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 y Y 1,614,285 Jam 11 1927' E. B. CRAFT E-r-AL TROUBLE INDIGATING SYSTEM Filed NOV. l, 1924 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 11,1927.' 1,614,235

E. E. CRAFT El' AL TROUBLE INDICATING SYSTEM Filed Nov. l, 1924 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Marker Jan. 11,1927. A 1,614,285

E. B. CRAFT ET AL TRQUBLE INDICATING SYSTEM Maico/vw. 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 iff- Jam 11, 1927.

E.' B. CRAFT Er AL TROUBLE INDICATING SYSTEM Patented Jan. 11, 1927.

A UNITED STATES PATENT orifice.

EDWARD B. CRAFT, OF HACKENSACK, NEW JERSEY, AND ALEO KELLER.. OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNORS yTO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMFANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW AYORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TROUBLE-IN DICATIN G SYSTEM.

Application led November 1, 1924. Serial No. 747,174.

e This invention relates to telephone exchange systems and more particularly it pertains to recordingV apparatus especially adapted to telephone systems employing automatic switching apparatus for t-he es-V tablishment of desired conversational connections. 4 l

In telephone systems where automatic se- .lecting apparatus is employed for establishto predetermined vimpulses transmitted by a calling subscriber, it isV found that the e'iciency of operation ofthe system may be materially increased by providing switching mechanism operative immediately that the apparatus'encounters trouble for indieating and recording the apparatus involved in 'establishing the desired connection and the'point to which the call progressed when trouble was encountered.

The principal object of the invention is, therefore, to obtain information concerning the apparatus involved in the establishment of a connection and the point to which the call progressed when trouble occured.

A feature of the invention relates to a recording mechanism common lto a number of switching mechanisms which becomes associated with the mechanism which has en- Y countered trouble land which operates to refcord in a permanent form information from which the apparatus involved in the connection and the point to which the call progressed when Vtrouble occurred may be quickly ascertained. A'

This invention is nin the nature of an improvement on the system shown and Adescribed in Patent No. 1,594,003, issued July 27. 1926, to W. lV. Carpenter, 'and a general o reference is hereby made to that patent for an understanding of the manner in which the mechanisms of the present system are arranged and the details of operation whenever such arrangements and details are hereinafter mentioned but are not particularly illustrated or described.

For the purpose of 'this ease it has been considered sutlicient to show only such part of therapparatus or mechanism as is necessary for a clear understanding of the present invention and to confine the detailed description to apparatus involved in the recording of information from which the nature and source of the trouble can be easily e ing conversational connections in responsev ascertained in accordance with the invention. Referring now to the drawings, Figs. 1 and 2 when taken together end for end with Fig-2 arranged on the right of Fig. 1 shows the general location'of thev apparatus for a complete system to which the invention is particularly adapted. Figs. 3 to 7, when arranged in the manner illustrated in Fig. 9 disclose circuits and apparatus involved in .indicating and recordingthe nature and 'ating the trouble indicator with the recorder which responds in accordance withtheop- Aeration of the indicator for making apermanent record of the nature and'souree of the trouble encountered. Fig. 7 illustrates diagrammatically the circuits and apparatus for the recorder. Fig. 84 shows a sample of the record produced when the apparatus-encountered several diferent kinds of trouble.

General description `of' them/stem and apparatus. Y

Referring now for the momentv to Figs. 1 and 2. descriptions wil] be lcriven of the .ofeneral'plan of the system. The lines 100 enter the oiiice and terminate inja number of line switches, such as switch 101. Outgoing from these switches are a number of trunks which extend to district selector switches.

For certain reasons it is desirable that theV district selector switches be divided into a number of groups. twoof which groups 106 and 107 'are illustrated. The group 106 comprises a number of district selector switches. two of which 108 and 109 are shown and trunks such as trunks'104 and 10d leading from the line switches are distributed among these district selector switches. 1n like manner the trunks 102 and 108 extend to the district selector switches 110 and 111 of the second group 107. It is. of course, obvious that other similar groups may be provided.

The trunks outgoing from the district selector switches lead in different directions, For example, some of the trunks 123 and 1251extendtofoffice selector switches. The

office selector switches may be arranged in groups similar to the districtl selector switches,the selector 127 being o't' one group -and the selector )128.being ot a second group 'f oiiice selectors. The trunks '132 leading from the oice selectors extend to distant oiiices to take care of interotfice lcommunications.

Other trunks leading from the district selector switches, such as the trunks 122 and 1124,/extend to incoming'switches located in the same `central office.

'These incoming switches are/similarly d1- uvi'ded into two groups, group-20() co1npris- :inge switches 202 and :203 and the group'201 comprising fthe switches120i1 and;205. rlhe trunks outgoing" from the incoming switches, such as trunks212 and 213 lead'to the vari- 550.0115 connectorfswitches of the several ygroups.

fOnly sone group of connector switches 214,

which includes'theswitches 215'andz216, is

`illustrated `in'fthe drawing. rrlhe connector switches'have accessto ther called'lines as-217 The A:trunks which lead from lthe line fswitclr'to'f. the district. selectors `alsov appear in ,ft-he 'sender selector switches 112, which oper- "fatato rerden'dthese trunks vto the #register 3Usenders. "Eworot'these sendersll and 114 [are shown. `The sendery connector may com- -rprise aplurality of sections '115, 1-16,fetc.

which-serve to connect rthe-senders to the l' 4outgoingirnarkers'itl and 118. Vhile only ftwo fottheffinarkers are. illustrated fanysuitable number fmay` be provided `for yhandling E the requiredftraic.

:In orderrto vconnect the markers tto the district framesthere are. provided a number 40 ot'frame connectors, one lforeach group of district selector frames. Frame con-nector 119,for-iinstance,:serves-to vconnectsany ot the markensfto anyYV of the trames in =the f se- `lective group-.106, while ltrame Vconnector 120 w Servesto connectany fof -the markersf'to any 7theirames initheedistricit selector Vgroup The, outgoing markers are connected to the Vi trunks outgoing 'from -the district selector switches by means 'ot district trunkconnecators 1 121- and -f1-33,/etc.

Likewise,""frame-connectors 129 and 4130 fa-re @provided for associating the outgoing '.fmarkers, arespectively, with the'otiice :selector "-.s-Witchesfofsthe ltwo corresponding groups, --whilestrunk connectorssuch asthe trunk qconnector `:131 are fprovided foriassociating theV Voutgoing lmarkers with the `two f groups sof itrunks ileading-(from'the office selector switches.

l- A-sender iconnectordevice .which lm ay comprise a plurality of sections 208 and 209 wserves-to connectithe-senders with any one ot alf-plurality .fof-incoming markers, two of wh1ch,-.210-and i211, arel shown, These 1inthe same oiiice.

coming markers are associable with frame connectors 206 and 207, respectively, with the *groups of incoming selector trames 200' and 201.

A numberof .ljnaltranslators 219 andt220 are provided. There may be any number of these translators depending on the number of called subscribers lines, there being onek pertaining exclusively to a of the subscribers Elines. Any of the final translators may be associated with the incoming markers.

The `final translatoi'-21'9, tor Y., example, is arranged yto make connectionwith any ,of

the 'tinal connector switchesvot the group214 and serves to control any -o't these switches to make a connection to the called subscribers lmes. ln a similar mannerithe iinal different portionV translator .220 is associable with ithe connector switches ot a di'fierentgroup and governs the same to extend connections v-fto yother called subscribers lines.

A trouble indicator 15() Ais provided A in common'to all outgoing markers :117 :and 118, etc. and may be associated `with any one oi: the markers in case of trouble. 'Connectnible with the troubleiindicator:150 is -recorder 151, which responds'to the roperation of the. trouble indicator 150-to .frecord the in- 'format-ion given 4by the i trouble indicator to provide a permanent record'of-nthe lnature and fsour'ce of fthe trouble. ASimilarly, a trouble indicator `250 is Y provided; forithe incoming markers :210.,an'd;211. Likewise, a recorder V251'is associable :with 4the trouble indicator. 250 `for''recording-'the nature and source Vof the `vtrouble encountered fzthrough the operationlof the incoming markers210 :and 211, in a :manner similar'to that described in connection Awith the trouble indicator l150.

`Referring now to Figs. 1-and 2 a -more detailed explanation will Vbe give-n ofthe general arrangementof the switches and'control mechanism and the:apparatus*involved in the establishment ofa desired conversational connection. vAssume that the subscriber of line 100 desires to hold-a conversation with a subscriber of line 217I locatedk in Assume further that the code of the oiiicedesignation-,ot the 4local oiiice is represented 'by al certain abbreviation which in terms of dial impulses is represented bythree digits. Assume also't-hat the numerical designation ot line 21.7 'is yrepresented by certain other digits.

The calling subscriberr upon removing his receiver from the switchhook causes the operation of line switch 101 thereby -eXtending the linel 100 to an idle trunk :104. The initiation of 'the call also ycauses the operation of the senderv selector 112 to selectV an idler sender suchas 113 and 114.

The calling subscriber now operates his dial to send-the series of impulsesrepresentand the transfer of the designations thereto,

one of the district frame connectors 119 or 120 is selected for extending the connection to the district fraine 108.A lnasniuch as yline 100 was extended to the district frame 108 upon the initiation of the call by the subscriber, the connection is now extended over line 122 to the incoming frame 200.

The next step in the establishment of the `connection is to connect the senderV through the sender connector 208 to an idle incoming marker for controlling the selective opera-v tion of the incoming selector switches and the completion of the desired connection. Before this operation, however, the outgoing marker has been released and is inreadiness for use in the establishment. of other desired connections. The designations recorded on the sender are now transferred to the selectedV incoming marker, for example 210, in turn causing the operation of the incoming frame connectors and the selection of the proper one of the final translators `which serves the group of called lines containing the line wanted for this particular call. lhen the incoming marker is connected to the final translator the connector frames respond to the operation of the final translater for operating the vertical row of contacts associated with the line 217 extending to the called for subscriber. Following this operation the horizontal row of contacts in the incoming and connector frames are operated for establishing the connection through .from the calling subscriber to the called subscri ber and in turn releasing any Vmechanism which is not required during the conversational period. Y

l la outgoing iiiart'er encounters trouble.

In the establishment of conversational connections, both the outgoing marker and the incoming marker functioned normally and, therefore, completed their control over this y ,outgoing marker encounters trouble at any one of several of its different stages of operation.v For this purpose it vmay be assumed ythat the connect-ion beine' established is one which requires the use ordboth a district and an office selector switch.

At the instant the outgoing marker is seized by a sender through the sender connector, relay 450 operates as described in V. Carpenter APatent No. 1,594,003, issued July 27, 1926, and in W. W. Carpenter application. Seria No. 703,362. filed April 1, 1924. This relay initiates the operation of the time measuring device shown in Fig. 3, which counts an intervalof time sufficient for the. marker. if functioning normally, to control the district andl oliice selector switches and to release in the regular manner. series of counting relays 300, which operate successively under the control of the constant-ly driven interrupter 309. These relays apply ground potential at definite intervals of tiine to the various,conductors leading to the distributing frame 307. By strapping conductor 319 to various ones of these conductors the time interval measured may be adjusted, as desired.

As soon following the opera-tionV of relay 450 as the interrupter 309 closes, relay 302 is'operated in a circuit from ground through interruper 309, conductork 320, outer left contact of relay 450, conductor 330, right contact of relay 308, conductor 321, right contact of relay. 301 and winding of relay-302 to battery. Relay 302 operates and prepares a circuit from battery, through its winding, left winding of relay 301, contact of relay 302, baci; contact of relay 304, back Contact of relay 306, conductor 322, and thence to ground at the leftfiont contact of relay 450. Villien the interrupter 309 opens its contacts, its shunt is removed and relay 301 operates in series with relay 302. On the next closure of the interrupter grounded conductor 321 .is extended through the right front contact of relay 301, right back Contact of relay 303, winding of relay 304 to battery. Relay 304 operates and opens the circuit for relay 302 and relay 302releases. Relay 304 pi'epares a locking circuit through its own winding and left winding of relay 303, front contact of relay 304, thence to the grounded conductor 322, as previously traced. On the next opening of the interrupter, relay 301 releases and the shunt being removed, relay 303 operates in series with relay 304.

On the next closure of the interrupter grounded conductor 321 is again extended. to the winding of relay 302. This relay operates and prepares the circuit for relay 301, which operates the next tiine'the interrupter opens. `On the next closure of the The time measuring device includes a intervals of time.

liti

the interrupter opensv and releases relays 301 .andi 303 and pemits-relay 305 to operate in series with relay 306. rI;`hus, the counting relays'300 a-re associated in different combinations under the control of the interrupter V309. From inspection it will be found that grounded potential is placedy on the'various conductors leading to the distributor frame'307 at succeeding anddeiinite lith the distributing frame cross-connected as illustrated, relay 7308 is not operated until relays 301, 303

1antl'305-are operated simultaneously. The circuit rfor relay 308 may be traced from lbatter f' through its winding distributing Y 7 .b l t.. v l h frame. 301 middle Yiront contact of relays 7 y n 301, 303 and 30o, to the grounded conductor .322.

Y VIf lthemarlier encounters trouble ininiedi- Y ,ately the relay 450 operates. the interval of time is countedgand relay 311 becomes energized vin-acircuit` from batte-ry through the winding of relayf311, inner rightcontact of relay 310, rightv normalA contact of slow-release relay 314, conductor 323left contact of relay 308 'to grounded conductor 322` "lelay 311 operates slow release 312, which in turn operates the slow-release relay 313, which therebyoperates the slow-release relay 314.

When relay 313 operates, it init-iates the operation of the connecting device 400 for Vthe purpose of connecting the marker to the trouble indicator. The peg count register magnet 310 also ope-ratesthe lregister to Yrecord the occurrence ofthe trouble.

In case the marker 'had progressed to a. point whereit was associated either with the vdistrict .or oflice switches the'operation of vcertain relaysas described in pending application, Serial No. A723,140, filed June 30, 1924, referred to above, would bring about the release in the manner explained in the referred yto application. vThe release of the vmarker would in turn .cause the release of the operatingl relays of the .time measuring device.

During the time the trouble indicator is-associated with the marker certain of the relays 501 to 536 inclusive, are operated to record certain information regarding the .apparatus involved and the point of progress which has been made up to the time when trouble Ywas encountered. 'The manner of effecting the connection of the indicator relays with the marker is fully described hereinafter. Relay 501 is operated in a circuit eX- tending through the selected marker to the gemmes sender. Since-relay 501 is individual .tothe Vparticular senderv illustrated, the indicator operates to record the fact that this particular sender is the one involved in the establishment of the present connection. other sender, such as the sender represented by another relay, beenv the one concerned, Vrelay 502 in the indicator would have been operated. Relay 501 immediately locks through its right contact, over conductor`542Y to ground, through key 540.

The operation of the relay 501, in addition to completing a circuit for causing the illumination of lamp 546 and the establishment of its own locking circuit,-also condi` tions an energizing circuit for onevof a series of code relays 700. These code relays function to causeA the Venergization of -selecting magnets 750 to '7 54 of a receiving printer in various combinations whereby a permanent record of the trouble lencountered may be made. The operation of the code relays 7 00 is, iowever, dependent upon the energi- Zation of a plurality of counting relays 600, which operate successively under the control of an interrufpter T 13 which is driven only when the printer is recording-the failures in the operation of the several switches. These relays apply' ground potential Aat Vregular intervals of time to the various conductors extending through thefcontacts of the lrelays of the indicating mechanism 500 -to the code relays 700. The operation of the parts just referred to will be described more indetail hereinafter.

Relay 512 is operated in a circuit from battery, through it-s left winding, thence through the contactsof the relay 401 individual to the particular marker that is in trouble. To this end relay 403 individual to the marker .is operated Yin circuit from battery, through the right front. contact of .relay 313, right contact of Vrelay 314, key 324, conductor 325, upper Winding of 403, ,right contact of relay 405, lower Contact of relay 404 to ground, through key 540. VRelay 403 locks through its lower winding and front contact, Winding of relay 404, to ground. Relay 403 operates and causes the operation of multi-contact relay 401 in a circuit traceable from battery, through the winding of relay 401, upper contact of relay 403 to ground at the upper Contact of relay 404. Relay '401 operates and connects the various leads Ifrom the trouble indicator shown in Fig, 5, through to the marker.

When relay 314 operates it opens the circuit ofV relay 311, which relay releases, in turn releasing relay 312, which likewise releases relay 313, thereby releasing relay 314. Relays 312, 313 and 314 being slowto release, provide an appreciable interval of time for the apparatus to function. As soon as relay 313 releases, it removes battery 'from conduc-- tor 325, causing the releaseY of relay 401 and the vdisconnection of the trouble indicator from the marker. Y l Upon the vrelease of relay 313 and while relay 314 is still operated, relay 310 is oper-- ated in a circuit from battery through its winding, left contacts of relay 314 and 313 to ground. Relay 310 immediately locks through its inner left contacts, left contact of relay 308 to conductor 322. Relay 310 opens Vthe circuit of relay 311 to prevent a repetition of the operation. Relay'310 at its outer left contact closes a circuit to relay 317 and ground. lSince relay 401 is individual to the particular marker which has encountered trouble, the operation of relay 512 records the identity Vof this particular marker. Had another marker been involved, such as the marker represented by relays 402, then relay 511 would'have been operated. Relay 512 locks to the conductor 542.

Thus, it will be seen that the trouble indicator shown in Fig. 5 lmay be associated with any one of the several markers in response to the time measuring device associated with the marker, provided such .marker` has encountered trouble'at any of the various stages of its operation, dependent upon the particular point at which the trouble occurred. The indicator will give various signs of information which are of assistance in determining the nature of the trouble and in locating the exact point in the system where it occurred. While only the important items have been taken into account in the disclosure, it will be evident that the trouble indicator may be extended to secure an indication of various other `operative conditions in the marker in order tol enable the tracing of the trouble more minutely to the exact point of its occurrence.

Inasmuch as the trouble indicator is common, as shown in Fig. 1, to all the outgoing markers, it may happen that at the time the particular marker finds trouble and attempts toY appropriate the indicator, said indicator is already engaged in a connection with another marker. The circuits are so arranged,

relative to the occurrence of trouble is shown and. 'described pending application to Harry Yfannenstiehl, Serial No 397,903,

filed July 21, 1920. Inasmuch as the printer mechanism itself ydoes not form a part of the present invention only, so muchV of the stopped.

place. however, that the connection of the trouble indicator to the marker is prevented and the i place.

A printer especially adapted for.

mechanism as is necessary for a clear and concise understanding of the lnvention has been illustrated. A general reference to the Harry Pfannenstiehl application is hereby scribed. The circuit for relay 705 may be traced from the negative pole of the power source 704, winding of magnet 4705, conductor 703, middle front contact of-magnet 404, conductor 431 to the positive pole of the power supply 704. The operating winding' of the driving motor 712 is directly connected in the power circuit 704, when the switch 702 is'closed and under these condi-` tions the motor is recording continuously. The motor 712 communicates power to a shaft 710, through a friction ,clutch 711. Mounted on the shaft 710 is a stop arm 709, which is normally in engagement with a stop 70S. Operatively associated with the armature of the magnet 705 is a toggle joint y700, arranged so that upon the energization of this magnet the stop 708 will be moved out of the path of the arm 709 and since power'is continuously applied to the shaft 701 from the motor 712 through friction clutch 711, the shaft 710 will rotate until the arm 709 again engages stop 708. Also mounted on the shaft 710 is a cam 713 which foi each revolution opens and closes contacts 714 and 715, serving to control the energization of the counting relays 600. The'interrupter 713 is so arranged withfrespect to contacts v714 and 715 that the former contact is closed when the printer shaft 710 is Contact 714 vopens before the selecting mechanism of the printer'returns to normal and contact 715 opens after this 1 way the proper sequence of operation takes In order that the receiving'printer will be in the proper position for recording numerals the following operations take Code relay 733 is operated upon the energization of relay 404 butvbefore the vopening of Contact 714.` The circuit of `this relay 733 is traceable from l grounded battery, winding of'relay 733, conductor 760, upper armature and back contact of relay 601, con'- tact 714,V to ground at armature 407 ofrelay 404. Code relay 733 operatesto close cir- VVcuits extending to the selecting magnets` 750, 751,.v 753, 'and 754 of the receiving 1 printer, Accordingly the printer is operated for causing the operationof the shift mechanism which places the printer in a position for printing numerals. Immediately that the interrupter 713 closes contact 7-15, relay contact 715, armature 407 of 'relay 404 to ground. Relay traced for` relay 601 and which in 601L is operated in a circuit from groundedbattery` 630, winding of relay 601, lower back contact of relay 602, conductor 631, conductor 760, contact and 601 operates and prepares a circuit from battery Athrough its windingA and the winds ing -ofrelay 602, tliroughthe lower frontcoiitact of relay 601 to ground at the arma.-

ture 407 of` relay 404, The energizat-ionof relay 602 is effectedl uponA the opening of contact 715,.. Nowrelays 601y and` 602 are held energizedovera circuit extending from .battery 630, windings of relays 601 and 602` in series, lower contact and armature of relayi 601, conductor 760 to groundy at-l the armature- 407 of relay 404, W hen the interrupter713 again closes contact 715, relay 603 is `operated turn causes the eiiergization of relay 604. operationof relays 601 and 602 connects groundlto conductor 632, which is connected to the extremeright hand armature of relays :z 511 and- 512 of the indicating,mechanism.

These relays are allotted to the markers 117 and118 and since but one marker, is involved in the establishment of aconversational con-v nection, but one of these relays will be operated in the case of trouble. Assume, for example, that marker 117 was involved in the, connection previously described and has encounteredtrouble. This information will be lrecorded through the operation-of relay 511,1which conditions a circuitfor code relay 725. The circuit for the code relay 725 is completed upon the energizationof relays 601 and 602, which applies ground to conductor 632upon the closure of contactg714; Code relay 725 is thereupon operated for completing energizing circuits for selectingv magnets 750, 751, 752 and 754.0f the receiving printer.

mechanism of thev printer to effect therecordation of information relative to the locarl lcountered. On the next closure of the. con

tactsi714 and715 by the cami713, relays 603.4 and 604 will be energized in a manner similarto that described in connection with relays 601 and 602. On the operation of theserelays andthe closure of contact 714 over a circuit ,similar to thatI The,

These selectingl magnets' arathus-k operated forsettingthe selecting had ground is? connected. to conductori GBS-, enf' tending to the right hand armaturesof re-` lays 501, and 502. These relays:l designate the senders, only one of which will be operated for any given trouble. Several of the. indicator relays may be operated simultaneously andl circuits conditioned .through their contactsto the sainecodel relay butaasa is appliedxto.-v Therefore, but;

previously described, ground operate the countingrelays..

one of the indicator relays ofeach group."` will` be effective to cause the energization ofi! the particular code relay for recordingithe;y

information in the proper column. Assumey for the purpose ofV illustration that. the; sender 1 is involvedin the connectionand; that trouble is encountered.` rlhe conductor;

633 which extends to the extremeright handl armature of relay 501being; groundechcode relay 725 is energized for causing; ;the en ergization of selectingV magnets 750, 751,752 and 754 of the receivingprinter.y The selecting mechanism of the receiving printerzwill;

then be set in a manner to record in column- 1 -the numeral 1, whichindicatesthe-par.- ticular sender involved intheestablishment of the connection.

Now in the case of` the, districtfiames,

but one, ofthese frames Ais utilized at atirne,

which makes itpossible to connectgthe arma-, V

tures controlling4 the coderela 7s to thel saine.

conductor which is grounded through the contacts ofrelays 603 and 604.V Uponxthe. energization of the relayV 503 whichis als lotted'to the district frame number 1, acir-V cuit is also completed for causing the enerf gization of the code relay 7 25, which records;v information designating the district frame".

number 1 ,as the. one involved inthe estab lisliment of' the connection..

Following the recording operationancl yfor each rotation of the shaft 710 mechanism;

is operated forcausing the relative movement between the platen and thetype car bring the next column ofthe. record@l riage to. ina printing position. operation is stiehl application.previously referred to .and-

This igiart-iculai' is one which isalso well understood Aby thoseI skilled in the art; The. details of the operas.k

tion have, therefore, been:` omitted. Simulltaneously with the. relative movement be.- tween the platen and type carriage,

ing relaysto the various groups ofindicator relays.

Immediately that the recordingl operation-x for the horizontal operate relay has takenm which occurs upon the operation; off the secondset of counting 'relaysfollowingf the set designated-by the numerals 611 and place,

612, code relay V747 is energized. This re-` layiupon closingiits "contact 'causes the .ener- 1 gizationy of selecting magnetl 7 51 of the refi- The: selecting; mechanism;

ceiving: printer'.

fully described Vin the Pfannen-y ground is successively connected through the count-l of the receiving printerA is `thus operated for causing the mechanism thereof to. be restored to its unshifted position, for from this point inthe recording operation letters are recorded on the record blank, it V being the last letter ofthe ofce designation has been recorded, the counting relays have progressed to, a ypoint whereby the circuit of code relay 731 is completed. The operation of relay 731 causes theenergization of certain ones of the selecting magnets 750 to 754 ofthe receiving` printer so as to cause the operationof the carriagereturn mechanism. The `carriage which may be either the platen or the type basket is moved under the action of a spring so that upon the operation of the carriage return mechanism the carriage is returned to its left hand position forthe beginning of a new line of printing. The operation of the Vcode relay 731 occurs immediately preceding the operation ofV code relay 744, which causes the operation of the line-feed` mechanism.

[After the record of the apparatus involved in a connection and the point to which the call progressed whentrouble occurred, has been made code relay 744 is energized overa circuit extending to the upperback contact and armature of relay The energization of this particular code relay causes the energizationof the selecting magnet 753 of the receivingprinter so that the mechanism of the printer is selected to cause the paper to bey advanced to bring airunprinted area in a printing position. V f

All the operations just described are fundamentally the same asin many receiving printersin which arrecord -is made in page fform and since 'the receiving printer itself does not form a part of the present invention, a kdetailed description thereof is believed unnecessary here. y

After relays 613 and 614 operate, and contact 714 is closed, relay 617 is energized over an obviousV circuit, which includes relay '744 for causing an additional line feed operation. Relay 617 removesv the ground from conductor 542, whereupon the indicating relays 504 to 536 .which happen to be energized 'are' deenergized. This" operation causes the extinction of the associated lamps and the opening of the circuits extending tov the code relays 700. Subsequently with this operation the locking circuit of relay The receiving printer is 403 is opened. This relay, as well as relays 401, 404, and 4:05 release, thus restoring the system to normal in readiness for connec-.- tion when another case kof trouble `occurs involved in a connectionand the point of progress made at the time trouble was encountered is illustrated in Fig. 8. The meaning of the various designations appearingl on the illustrated record will now be described.

Assume, first, that the sheet'upon which the record is printed bears a number of columnar spaces, each of which Vhas a definite and predetermined position on the sheet and which bears certain designations representing the various mechanisms employedV in the establishment of a conversational connection. Assume further that the sheet is arranged in the receiving printer in a manner to bring the designated columns in their proper position so that the record of the apparatus involved in a given connection will appear in the proper column. In other words, there is a column allotted to each particular operation of the system which is apt to encounter trouble and which' is arranged so that designations will appear in the proper columns, according, tothe point of progress of the call. An examination of this record shows that column V1 is allotted to the markers, column 2 to the senders, column 3 to the district frame, etc. and with numerical designations in these columns or other symbolic designations representing the apparatus employed in a given connection the nature and source' of Vthe trouble can be quickly ascertained. Also,

the permanent record of the occurrence of 'pleted and the office dialed is number 252 lBLAcl, and that trouble is encountered in attempting to establish vthe desired connection. The record yof the apparatus involved will be recorded on the sheet in the columns designating the respective mechanisms. In the record shown in F ig. 8,- line 1, the circuit to operate the horizontal operate relay of failures occurring in the opera` marker 'number' 2 l failed; This "a'ct is' de# tected by-'the'absencel vof a designationin the columnr allotted-tothis particular operation or theorie labeledl horizontal From this "record-1t is seen that the lcomfiection involved marker number 2; sender number 1, district framenumber l and district trunki vertical number land since 'the failure occurred in setting; up the connection at the district frame nooliicel frame wasv selected, no desigf tionedpro'perly; The last three lettersB I) B appearingv in liney number 1V represents BLAclr the office code dialed inanarbitrary code.y Hadanother marlerfor sender been involved in establishing' the connection' just`Y described; other f designations Would appear in the columnar lspacesallotted to these par-- ticularmechanisms. For the 'sake of brevity a ifurther detailed descr? corded will notlbe described'here,V since the operation Was'fully discussedin connection with theoperatien of the'indic-atng'mecha nism 500 a-ndlthe codefielays 700.

Record number 2 shows that marker num-- ber Q'talled to release when used in connec tion'ivith sender number 1 on a. call to 258 BLUe, Whose trunks are located on a dis--u trict frame. This particular trouble 1s findlf catedvby the appearance ofthe numerals and the Xvs,A in'dicatingthat the-conversational connection has been correctly set-1 up but thel K tem of switching apjparatusforextending* marker4v failed to 'release- Record'number 3 shows that the translator' check circuit otlnarler number 2 in connectieniivithsender number l failed to 'function'properly; rEllis-fact is shown by the appearance ot all vthe code letters whichl shows that the u-nselectedlotlice code relays ofl vthe marker tailed to release.'y

Records .le-ande show thattlie marker number lvfailedto lrelease whenlused inconnecti'on With' sender number l on tWosuccessive callsg to Q52 ELALclr, Whose trunlsarelocated on oliice trarne number l.

The previous description wasV .vithfreter` ence to trouble encountered in t-he'outgo'ing marker ofthe system; Had the call progressed suliicie-ntly far fto involve an incoming marken such as, fory example 210 of Fig. 2.,' and it the trouble occurred at this point infthe connection trou-ble indicator QO'and recorder 251 would be associated in' a nienner `similar to that described in'connection with troublein` the'outgoing` marker. rlhe apparatus associated with the incoming markers is identical to thatconnno-n to the outgoing markers.v Therefore, a similar record would be made etk trouble eneounteredin this particular part of the system.

It `-ll also be obvious` thatthef'trouble` tion of the manner' 1n' which the various designations are re-V gewusst in dic ati-ng` Ineclianismsfmayserve( fin" c'oncfi tion Withthe markers*Wlietlienfthec-allbeing" handled is a localone 'orfone' involving intere oliice trunks. For the purpose of brevity; -itk isl f 'considered unn'eces'sary-'V to2'v describe'- tlief opera-tion 1 incident to '-theest ablishmentifofan'l interoiiicef connection andY tlie' occurrenc v*of* trouble therein;` but' tlie-functifons? oi the Inarkerf andl'f'tlie'- associated app aratusI` in h anellin'g 3 suc-hA 'connection a-re tundeiner-it'ally-'tr the-` same'.

What? is 'claimed'l isf:

1.V In cornbinationgA af'pluralityot' Sele tively operable switches: for" establishingff'vw rious connections, meansoperated'in accor' ance with failures in'the operationofisaiy v switches,` circuit conn'actions contr-"elled saidvv means, a page recording mechanis'm fory recording informationAr giving desigl" nation of the-'switches' involved'7 in a connee'- B5-Tf* tion, andmeans to 'successively' associate? groups of saidK circuit? connections with f the" recording'mechanism lso that the sarne'fgronp will invariably canse the occurrence ofthee record in thefsarnev position.

2. The combination intelephone system oillsivitching apparatus@k fonv eXt'r1"(il'i'11"g'Y'` connections, Y a 1 switch Vcontrollingfineclia-nisni for governingthef operation otrv said appar' ratue;` a recording dev-iceg. and-means t'rrQi associating said device`v with said? nre'chan'isniE and for operating saiddevi'ee to#produceak permanent record` giving 1in-f'ormationioffth'ea different'degreesof progressfmad'e' by@` sn'ch mechanism.

3. The combination in a telephone i sys-*- connections, a* switch l controllingl mechanism"- for governing the* operation ofi said appa ratus, a control device, means Vtorfco'rniectin'f'' said devicel with saidI niechanisin. iff'- said? mechanism fails1 toff'unction properly, and"i means responsive to the operation o'fflthe" control' device'fforproducing"ahperinanent y l record giving information 1 of fthe dirn'tt 110 degrees of progress made by such nie'ehaf#y nism. 4 4 Y 4'." The combinationE ay telephoner sys# tem' oif l switching apparatus-I for earten'clingf conr'rection's, a switch controlling mech-anis for` vgoverning; the operationot saidfap'pa ratus,I a control device,"-Ineansl'forfconnee ing said device With-said 'rneehanisinlw'hen anunstandard 1condition is Venconnt'ered by" said' mechanism; y and' means. responsiveYV to the operation( off thefcontro'lf deviceI i for!" reeordin informationlin different A co'llr'i'mnaf' spaces designating the? particular` fmfeclianisrn involved 4in a connectionandlthe pointwof progr ess-l of "such connection. Y Y Y 5. A sivitchng system. 'comprising-'ia pl-'ul'f ralityv ot? selectively operative-apparat 'sr' 'for establishing predeterminediconnectionsn` switch controlling mechanisms-for govern-11 ing the loperation ofsai'd app aratus; con* 1 trol device, means operated when said mechanism fails to function properly for connecting said device to said switching mechanism, said control device operating in -accordance with .the fa ilures of said mecha.- nism to proceed with the connection, and means responsive to said control device for recording in a permanent form information of the progress and the apparatus involved in the connection.

6. The combination in a telephone system of switching apparatus for extending connections, a switch controlling mechanism for governing the operation of said apparatus, a control device, means responsive to the failure of said mechanism to function properly to connect said control device to said mechanism, a recording mechanism, and means controlled by said device for effecting the operation of said recording mechanism to record information concerning the apparatus involved and the point of vprogress'made at the time of failure of the apparatus.

7. The combination in a telephone system of selective switches for extending con'- nections, a controlling mechanism associable with said switches for governing their operations, a. device operated in accordance with various degrees of progress of the connections, switching means for associating said device with said mechanism in response to the'occurrence of trouble in said mechanism, a recording printer, relay means controlled by said devicesy for governing the operationA of said recording printer to record information concerning the operation ofthe switches involved and the point of progress made when the trouble was encountered, and periodically operated means for successively causing the operation of saidrelay means in accordance with the operation of said device.

8. The combinationin a telephone system of selective switches for extending' connections, a controlling mechanism associable with said switches for governing their operations, a device operated in kaccordance with various degrees of progress of the connections, switching means for associating said device with said mechanism upon the occurrence of trouble in said mechanism, a recording printer, normally ineffective, means responsive to said switching means for releasing said printer, a plurality of relays controlled by said device, and means associated with said printer and controlled by said relays for selectively operating said printer to record information relative to the nature and source of the trouble encountered the operation of said switches.

9. The combination in a telephone-system of selective switchesfor extending connections, a. controlling mechanism associable with said switches for governing their operations, a device operated in accordance with various degrees of progress of the connections, switching means for associating said device with said mechanism in response to the occurrence of trouble in said mechanism, a recording printer, normally ineffective, means. responsive to said switching means for releasing said printer, a plurality of relays controlled by said device, and means associated with said printer and controlled by said relays for selectively operating said printer to record in designed columnar spaces information giving the apparatus involved in a connection and the point of progress made at the time trouble was encountered;

' l0. The combination in a telephone System of selective switches for extending connections, a controlling mechanism associable with said switches for governing their operation, a device including a plurality of relays operated in accordance with the various degrees of progress of the connection, switching means for associating said relays with said mechanism in response to the occurrence of trouble therein, a plurality of code relays controlled by the relays of said device for setting up predetermined circuits, Ameans ,for successively completing the circuits extending to said code relays as determined by the relays of said device, and means operated by said-code relays for producing a permanent record of information giving the apparatus involved and the point of progress made at the time trouble was encountered.

11. The combination in a telephone system of selective switches for extending connections, a controlling mechanism associable with said switches for controlling the same, adevice for producing a permanent record showing the different degrees of progress made by said mechanism comprising relay means operated in accordance with switches involved and the nature of the trouble encountered, and a receiving printen Vselectively operated depending upon the operation of said relays to record in different columns information giving the switches involved and the point at which the connection had progressed when trouble occurred.

l2. The combination in a telephone system of selective switches for extending connections, a controlling mechanism associable with said switches for controlling the same, a device for producing a permanent record showing different degrees of progress made in the establishment of a connection by said mechanism comprising relay means operated in accordance with the switches involved and the nature of the trouble encountered, a plurality of electro-magnetic devices operated successively in accordance with said relay means, and a receiving printer rendered effective as determined by said electromagnetic devices for recording in different columns information from whith the switches involved and the point at which the con* nection had progressed when trouble occurred can be quicklv deduced.

13. The combination in a telephone system o f selective switches for extending connections, a controlling mechanism associable with said switches for controlling the same, a device for producing a permanent record showing difierent'degrees of progress made in the establishment of a connection by said mechanism comprisingT relay means operated in accordance with the switches involved and the nature of the trouble encountered, a plurality of electro-magnetic devices conditioned for operation by said relay means, successively operated, means for completing the operation of said electro-magnetic devices, anda receiving printer rendered effective as determined by said electro-mag netic devices for recording in diiferent colunms `information from which the switchesinvolved and the point at which the connection had progressed when trouble occurred can be quickly deduced.

14. The combination in a telephone system of selective switches for extending connections, a controlling mechanism associable with said switches for controlling` the same, a device for producing` a permanent record showing different degrees of progress made in the establishment of a connection by said mechanism comprising relay means operated in accordance with the switches involved and the nature of the trouble encountered, a plurality of electro-magnetic devices conditioned 4for operation by said rela-y means, a series of counting relays for completing the operation of said electro-magnetic de vices, and a receiving printer rendered effective as determined by said electro-magnetic devices for recording in different columns information from which the switches involved and the point to which the connection had progressed when trouble occurred can be quickly deduced.

15. The combination in a telephone system of selec-tive switches for extending co'n'-V nections, a controlling mechanism associable with said switches for controlling the same, a device for producing a permanent record showing the different degrees of progress made in the establishment of a connection by said mechanism comprising relay means operated in accordance with the switches involved and the nature of the trouble encountered, a plurality of electro-magnetic devices conditioned for operation by said relay means, a series of counting relays for completing the operation of said electromagnetic devices a receiving printer rendered effective as determined by said electromagnetic devices for recording in different columns information from which the switches involved and the point at which the connection had progressed when trouble occ-urred can be quickly deduced, andrmeansV effective when said counting relays have progressed to Va certain point for causing the operation of said printer to bringan unprinted area in a printing position.

16. ln a telephone system, al machine switching exchange including automatic switches for extending connections, apermanent record producing device common to said switches, and means to operate said device to record the nature and location of trouble in response to the failure of any of said switches to function properly.

17, inV a telephone system, a. machine switching exchange including automatic switches and associated apparatus for extending connections, a permanent record producing device commento said switches and apparatus, and means to operate said device to record the nature and location of trouble in response tothe failure of any of said switches or apparatus to function properly.

In witness whereof, we hereunto 'subscribe our names this28th day of October, A. D., 1924.

EDWARD B. CRAFT. LEO KELLER. 

